Suarez the hero as Barcelona slay Real Madrid in another enthralling Clasico

It never fails to deliver, does it?

Barcelona and Real Madrid scintillated the football world for the 170th time in La Liga on Sunday. For the 67th time in this remarkable, spell-binding rivalry, it was the Catalan side that emerged victorious.

Goals from Jeremy Mathieu and Luis Suarez - whose winner was a thing of beauty - were too much for Los Blancos, who found the net through Cristiano Ronaldo after the best piece of attacking play all evening.

But it was Suarez - who made his debut for his new club in the first Clasico of the season back in October - who captured the headlines, and along with it the adulation of a crowd who will surely hold him in their hearts now.

"He's got a tiny window of opportunity, and he gets it down to the split-millimeter," beIn Sports commentator Ray Hudson screeched, in the way only he can, describing the winning goal from the Uruguayan.

It was a goal that encapsulated the quality of talent on the pristine pitch at the Camp Nou, and a goal that now has Barcelona four points clear of their perennial rivals at the top of the La Liga table.

Here's what you need to know from yet another enthralling El Clasico:

• A jam-packed Camp Nou unveiled a brilliant tifo ahead of the contest, one befitting the spectacle that is El Clasico.

(Courtesy: BBC Sport)

• Barcelona 1, Real Madrid 0: Jeremy Mathieu, just like we all expected. The Frenchman opened the scoring in the 19th minute, getting onto the end of a perfect cross from Lionel Messi and clipping a header beyond Iker Casillas.

• Barcelona 1, Real Madrid 1: This was somewhat more like the script we expected. Los Blancos leveled the score in the 31st minute, with Cristiano Ronaldo - who had been jeered mercilessly each time he touched the ball by the 98,000 supporters inside the Camp Nou - taking a perfect backheel flick from Karim Benzema and poking a shot beyond Claudio Bravo. 

• The goal, worthy of both the star power on display and the enormity of the match, was Ronaldo's sixth in his last five matches against Barcelona. It was also his seventh in his last eight appearances at the Camp Nou. Jeer all you like, it doesn't seem to be working.

• Not to be left out of the fun, Marcelo pulled off the best bit of skill in the opening half, getting himself out of a tight spot on the sideline with some typically suave Brazilian footwork.

• Barcelona 2, Real Madrid 1: Given the quality of players on show, we shouldn't be surprised by moments of absolute brilliance like the one Suarez treated the world to in 56th minute.The goal - Suarez's seventh in his last eight league matches - came after a first touch that can only be described as magical. Watch it. Then watch it again and admire what was a slap in the face of physics.

• The match featured its typical slew of biting, ferocious, often cynical tackles, with 11 yellow cards handed out. That there wasn't a sending off was nothing short of a miracle.

• Neymar spurned two fantastic chances to give Barcelona a 3-1 lead in the second half, using his blistering pace to race away from Real Madrid's tiring midfield and then their flat-footed defenders, only to fluff a pair of shots once he made his way inside the penalty area.

• Sergio Busquets, who passed a late fitness test having recovered from an ankle injury, did indeed make an appearance from the bench, coming on to add some solidity to the home side's midfield in the 76th minute.

• Fans likely got a chance to witness some history on Sunday, as Luis Enrique introduced Barcelona legend Xavi with just over 10 minutes remaining in the contest. The Spaniard, 35, is widely expected to leave the club at the end of the season, meaning this Clasico - his record-tying 42nd - was likely his last.

• That Barcelona didn't find the net again following Suarez's goal was a minor miracle. As Real Madrid's midfield began to open up - a combination of the tired legs and pressing higher up the pitch for an equalizer - the space afforded on the break for the home side was massive. In the end, it didn't matter, as Carlo Ancelotti's men could muster little in the way of clear chances in the second half.